Hungary



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. R. J. VON WBHRSTBDT.

(No Model.)

REPEATING FIRE ARM.

No. 437,541. Patented Sept. 3Q, 1890.

IIN

Mam/WM (No Model.)- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.4

' A. R. J. VON WEHRSTEDT.

REPEATING FIRE ARM. No. 437,541. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

' UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

ALFRED RITTER .IURNITscIIEK VoN WEHRSTEDT, OE VIENNA, AUSTRIA- HUNGARY.

REPEATING MRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,541, dated September 80, 1890.

Application tiled December 20, 1887. Serial No. 258,529. (No model.) Patented in Sweden October 26, 1887, No. 2,252 in Belgium October 29,1887,No. 79,349; in England October 29]1887,No.14,761; in France October 29,1887,N0.186,672; in Germany October 30,1887,No. 43,868; in Italy December 3l., 1887, XXI, 22,564, and in Austria-Hungary April 24,1888,N0

41,060 and No. 6,416l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED RITTER J UR- NITsoHEK VON WEHRsTEDT, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and a resident of the city of Vienna, in Austria-I-Iungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Repeating Fire-Arms, (for which I have obtained patents as follows: in Germany October 80,1887, No. 48,868; in Austria-Hungary April 24, 1888, No. 41,060` and No. 6,416; in Belgium October 29, 1887, No. 79,849; in England October 29, 1887, No.

V14,761; in France October 29, 1887, No. '186,672; in Italy December 81, 1887, XXI,

22,564, and in Sweden October 26, 1887, No. 2,252,) of which the following is a specification.

The repeating-gun forming the subject of the present invention has a single-motion breech-closing mechanism in which the breech-bolt consists of two wedge-shaped parts sliding the one upon the other, and which I will call the locking-wedge and the breech-wedge. In closing the breech the locking-wedge is driven between the breech-- Wedge and the bottom of the breech-casing, thereby raising the rear end of the breech- Wedge, so as to cause ashoulder on the latter to engage with the wall of the breech-casing. When the locking-wedge is drawn back, the breech-wedge is lowered and can then be drawn back, so as to open the breech. During the first part of the movement of the locking-wedge the firing-spring is cocked, so that after closing the breech the gun is ready for iiring. For holding together the two Wedges and for cooking the tiring-spring a cookingpiece is employed. This is inserted into a groovein the two wedges and has an eye embracing the firing-pin, while its rear hooked portion enters into a notch in the lockingwedge. The cooking-piece is provided with a downwardl projection, which on closing the breech engages with the trigger-pin, so that the ring-spring,which has been compressed in opening the breech, is kept cocked.

The repeating mechanism consists of a spring-actuated cartridge-feeder arranged in a magazine below the breech-casing. The cartridges rest upon the cartridge-feeder, which is hinged below the barrel of the gun, and are held in a sheet-metal case inclosing their bottoms and, say, about one-fourth of their length. A projection on the sheet-metal cartridge holder or case engages with a projection on the magazine, and thus prevents the cartridges being raised farther by the cartridge-feeder than is necessary to bring one cartridge into the way of the breechbolt. Vhen all the cartridges have been tired, the empty cartridge holder or case, which now is no more held bythe cartridges and cartridgefeeder, falls through the opening in the bottom of the magazine. readily closed. This is effected by a lug mounted on a plate attached to the rear wall of the magazine. On introducing the cartridge-package the said plate is pushed back by the package, sol that the lug is made to overlap part of the trigger-guard, uncovering the said opening. At the same time the projection on the sheet-metal cartridge-holder enters into a notch in the plate and is held by the cartridge-feeder; but when the lug and the plate are pushed baclr still farther the cartridge-feeder will throw out all the cartridges contained in the magazine, together with their holder.

In order to enable the gun to be used as a single-loader While the magazine is full, I provide a catch consisting of a cam mounted in the left wall of the breech-casing near its bottom, and which can be turned by a handle. When the repeating mechanism has to be put out of action, the cam is turned forward, whereby it is caused to enter between the uppermost and the second cartridge, thus preventing the second and all the following cart-ridges from beinglifted by the cartridgefeeder.

In the drawings hereunto annexed I have shown a gun constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 1 is a Vertical longitudinal central section of the gun with the breech opened, the'breech-bolt being shown in elevation.

This opening can be Fig. 2 is a similar View of the gun with the breech closed and the striker cocked. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line x as, Fig. 1. Figxl is a section on the line yg/,Fig 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the breech-boltwith the striker cocked. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same. Fig. 7 is a section on the linez a, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a rear View; and Fig. 9 is a section on the line u u, Fig. 5, on a larger scale. Fig. 10 shows the two wedges of the breech-bolt partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 11 shows the cocking-piece in two views. Fig. 12 shows the stop in different views. Fig. 13 is a bottom 4View of the catch'for putting out of action the repeating' mechanism, and Figs. 14 to 17 show the cartridge holder or case in various views.

As is clearly seen from Figs. 5 and 10, the breech-bolt consists, substantially, of two wedge-shaped parts A and B, A being the breecl1-wedge, and B the lockin g-wed ge. The breech-wedge is centrally hollowed and incloses the tiring-pin a and the ringspring a', its front end being closed by the head c, screwed into it. On the under side of the breech-wedge there is provided a groove a5,

v into which the coeking-piece D is embedded.

This cocking-piece has at its front end an eye d, while at its rear end it is provided with a projection cl and two notches cl2 and d?. As is shown in Fig. 5, the eye d of the cockingpiece embraces the front end of the firing-pin a. A shoulder at presses the cooking-piece forward and the projection d abuts against a projection l) of the locking-wedge B, so that bothwedges are held together by the cocking-piece and the tiring-pin.

` In order to insure that the two inclines slide the one upon the other, the breech-wedge A is provided with a groove a5, Fig. 10, into which a lip b on the locking-wedge enters, Figs. 5, 9, and 10, while alip a on the breechwedge engages with a groove b2 in the locking-wedge.

, When the breech has been opened and the breech-block entirely drawn back, the projections a7 enter into the notches b3, and as in this position the breeclrwedge A is guided by the top wall of the breeclrcasing E, Figs. 1 and 2, so that it cannot be raised-that is to say, so that the locking'wedge cannot be driven under the breech-wedge-the two wedges when in this position are in such rigid connection that by pushing forward the locking-wedge by means of the handle F the breech-wedge is also pushed forward. When the breech-wedge has arrived at its extreme position, with its head abutting against the head of the cartridges in the barrel, its rear end can be raised, because its shoulder as is then below the edge of the wall of the breechcasing E. When the locking-wedge B now continues its forward motion, the project-ions of" escape from the notches Z13, and the locking-wedge raises the breech-wedge A by being forced in between the breech-wedge and the bottom of the breech-Casin g. At the same time the surface a is brought to abut against the front surface c of the breech-casing, so that the breech-bolt is locked and the breech cannot be' opened by the explosion. The shoulder b4 serves to prevent the lockingwedge B from being driven in too far, thus avoiding undue pressure and friction.

In opening the breech the locking-wedge B is at rst drawn back, thereby lowering the rear end of the breech-wedge A, so that the latter can also be drawn back. During this first part of the movement of the lockingwedge B the tiring-spring is cocked, Fig. 5, because the cooking-piece D and thel tiringpin a are drawn back together with the locking-wed ge B, while thebreech-wedge A is only lowered at its rear end without being drawn back. Vhen the breech-wed ge is drawn back, its projections a7 have already entered into the notches Z13, and thus prevent the two wedges A and B from being drawn closer together. This position is retained until the breech has to be closed, whereupon the breech-wedge A is raised at its rear end, as already stated; but before this takes place the projection d4 of the cooking-piece has been engaged by the trigger-pin g, which keeps the tiring-spring cocked while the breech-bolt is being pushed forward.

The stop, Figs. 5 and 12, consists of a pin II, provided with notches 7L and 71,2 and having on its rear end a disk h3 with handle h4. The disk h3 is so shaped that it does not interfere with the cooking-piece D. When the pin is turned in the direction ot' the hand of a watch while the spring is cocked and' the breech is closed, the circular part of the disk enters into a notch d2 in the cockingpiece, so that the tring-sprin g cannot come into action even if the trigger should be pulled. At the same time the beveled end h of the pin H is turned downward, while that end which is not beveled enters into the recess d10 of the breech-wedge, thus preventing both parts from moving, and also the breech from opening. When the stop is turned while the iring-spring is not cocked, the pin II enters into the recess al in the same manner as before stated, thus preventing the breech from opening, and the disk on the pin I-I enters into the second notch (Z3 of the cockingpiece.

II is a spring, the end of which enters into the notches 7L h2, thus holding the pin H in place.

The bottom of the breech-casing and the stock are provided with an opening. Into the magazine thus formed a cartridge-package may be inserted from above. In order to IOO IIO

enlarge the magazine, a casing I is provided below the said opening. This casing is screwed to the stock of the gun and is connected with the trigger-guard J. In the casin g there is located the cartridge-feeder i', pivoted at c and pressed upward by the spring 2.

On the rear wall of the magazine a plate 3 is pivoted, which is provided witha notch i4.

The spring K bears 'upon the upper flat portion of the plate and keepsit open; but when the latter is pressed forward, so that the lug t closes the opening which is provided in the casing I for the empty cartridge-holders L to fall through, the edge t6 enters into the notch Za of the spring K, so that the plate is held in this position too.

M are two guide-lugs for the cartridges and the cartridge-feeder. They are xed in the breech-casing. A similar guide M is provided for the cartridge-hold er at the rear end of the magazine. This guide consists of two side walls, which at their rear edges are connected by the wall m and have their front edges provided with elevated rims m. The lugs Z7, by means of which the bottom t8 of the magazine is secured to the'body thereof,

form a continuation of the rims m.

The cartridge-packages contain iive cartridges, more or less, held together by the cartridge-holder L. The cartridge-holders consist of a single piece of sheet-steel, which is stamped out in the form shown by Fig. 14 and bent together along the dotted lines. Convex ribs formed in the blank by stamping out or pressing serve to strengthen the whole. Z is the projection by which the holder is held in the magazine. Z2 are lugs, which are drawn through slots Z3 and then bent down, thus holding together the holder L. The upper lugs Z4 are bent as shown in Fig. 16, and being elast-ic form springs to hold the cartridges together. When such a cartridge-package is inserted into the magazine from above, the projection Z forces the plate t3 backward, Fig. 2, and entersinto the notch i4. The cartridge-feeder, which has been de'- pressed, now bears upon the bottom cartridge and raises the cartridges contained in the magazine so far that the top cartridge lies between the lugs Z4. When the breech is open, the topmost cartridge is so far raised that in pushing forward the breech-bolt the projection a2 on the latter comes against the head of the cartridge and pushes it forward into the breech-chamber, while the other cartridges are raised by the cartridge-feeder i.

On opening the breech the cartridge-shell is extracted and ejected by the extractor A in the well-known manner. The extractor is let into the breech-wedge A and prevents the unscrewing of its head. If itis desired to remove a partly-emptied or a filled cartridgeholder from the magazine, the plate Z3 is pressed back a little more by means of the lug Z5, whereby the projection Z of the cartridge-holderis disengaged from the notch Z4, and the cartridge-feeder throws out the holder, together with the cartridges contained therein, through the top opening of the magazine. IVhen the cartridge-holder is emptied, the last cartridge having been introduced into the breech chamber, the cartridge-holder which has been held in place by the cartridges only glides down and falls through the opening in the bottom of the magazine.

The catch for putting out ot' action the repeat-ing mechanism consists of an eccentric disk R, provided with a cylindrical projection with two plane surfaces i" parallel toits axis. This disk is free to revolve round the screw r, and is held in position by a spring S bearing against one of the surfaces fr. In the position shown by dotted lines in Fi g..13 the repeating mechanism :is free to act, becausethe disk R does not projectbeyond the edgeof the breech-casing; but when it is turned by means of the handle rzinto the position shown by full lines in Fig. 13 (the breech being open) the said disk' enters between the topmost and the immediately succeeding cartridge. The first cartridge can still be pushed into the barrel, while all the rest below it areheld back by the catch, so that the gun can be employed as a single-loader.

I claiml. In arepeating-gun, the combination,with the breech-casing, of a breech-bolt consisting of two wedge-shaped parts A B, which have projections and notches on their inclined surfaces and are guided by lips a6 and la', the rear Wedge B being provided with a handle F, so that on pushing forward the rear wedge B it enters between the bottom of the breech-casing and the front wedge A, raising the latter, so that a shoulder ctS on the said front wedge is caused to bear against the front wall e of the breech-casing, thereby preventing the breech from being opened by the explosion.

2. In a repeating-gun, the combination, with the breech-casing, of a breech-block consisting of the two wedges A and B, with the cooking-piece D, having at its front end an eye CZ, embracing the tiring-pin, and at its rear end a projection CZ', engaging with the Wedge B, and having a projection (Z4, engaging with the trigger-pin g, and notches d2 d3, engaging with eccentric disk h3 on pin H, enabling it to be retained in certain positions hereinbefore set forth by means of the triggerpin g and the pin H.

3. In a repeating-gun, in combination with the breech-casing and the parts A B, forming the breech-bolt, and the cooking-piece D, having notches Z2 d3, a stop consisting of a pin H, provided at its rear end with an eccentric disk h3 and having a beveled front end Zt, so that by turning the said pin the disk h3 is caused to engage with the notches of the cooking-piece, thus preventing the firing-pin from being thrown forward, While at the same time the non-beveled end of the pin I-I enters into a recess d10 of the breech-wedge, thus locking both wedges.

4. In combination with the breech-closing mechanism, a magazine I, arranged in the middle of the gunstock and having an opening in the bottom for the empty cartridgeholders to fall through, and a pivoted plate is, held in a rearward or forward position by the spring K and forming the rear wall of the magazine, and provided with the lug t5, so that this lug closes the said opening in the IIO bottom of the magazine when the plate i3 is piece L, the arms Z2, and the lugs Z4, for holdpressed forward while the magazine is empty. ing together the cartridges stamped out of a l 5. The combination of the breech-closing single piece of sheet metal bent together and 15 and cooking mechanism and the magazine I held together by bending down, substantially 5 with an eccentric R, fulcrnmed on the breechas described and shown.

casing, so that by turning it can be made to In testimony whereof I have axed my sigenter belowthe topmost cartridge in the maganature in presence of two Witnesses.

zine, thus holding down the rest of the car- ALFRED RITTER JURNITSCHEK trdges below it. voN WEHRSTEDT. lo 6. In repeating-guns, the magazine I and Witnesses:

the cartridge-feeder z", in combination with E. G. J. MOELLER,

the case or holder consisting of the center P. O. PAGET. 

